AirCladhttp://airclad.com
Generation NextFri, 25 Jul 2014 10:11:27 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.3Hirehttp://airclad.com/hire/
http://airclad.com/hire/#commentsTue, 21 Jan 2014 21:55:36 +0000http://airclad.com/?p=1097AirClad proudly launches the start of its hire division. It is a new market for AirClad which has predominately worked on bespoke design a build projects only. With Hire we are now able to offer great AirClad structures for shorter terms lease contracts as well as long term projects.

We will tour and manage the structures for you or they can simply be sited with you until you need them collected.

]]>http://airclad.com/hire/feed/0Website Updatehttp://airclad.com/website-update/
http://airclad.com/website-update/#commentsTue, 21 Jan 2014 21:46:32 +0000http://airclad.com/?p=1094Again we have given a major update to this website to keep you completely up to date with everything we have going on. The new site has been edited and refined to show you the projects and structures that best represent the creative and commercial benefits of AirClad.

For the this we have created a new ‘structure’ section to focus on the projects areas we find AirClad most influences. These are not the only areas for AirClad and as a design a production company we always welcome your enquires and project challenges.

]]>http://airclad.com/website-update/feed/0Festivalhttp://airclad.com/festival-news/
http://airclad.com/festival-news/#commentsMon, 09 Sep 2013 21:28:39 +0000http://airclad.com/?p=1091The festival industry has been slowly and surely growing in the last years. The festivals now merge music and performance with brands looking to be associated with them. It is a great way to make very specific demographically targeted activations.

Over the last decade Inflate has driven and inspired the technology of these structures to maximize brand awareness. With AirClad we can take this to a whole new level offering unlimited spaces for brand activations, bars, VIP areas and even micro nightclubs as an event within the event.

While the events and brands come together we have noticed that the level of accommodation has slowly been growing. Originally fields were filled with tents and what would become smellier and smellier occupants over the days. Now with the boom of Glamping the expectation for festival accommodation has been growing year on year. Last year we heard of a €25,000 weekend suit at a festival, and not one but four of these were sold out.

Airclad has started work on some initial ideas for festival dwelling and is currently working on a medium to high end replacement or should we say enhancement to the traditional safari tents. We re not here to replace existing options, we are here looking to assist those who wish to challenge and have something made from the future.

Can you outline the current AirClad project taking place in Antwerp?
The Badboot project has been developed to cover and extend the operation times of a roof top bar on a barge in Antwerp Harbour. The structure has been designed to be used all winter and part removed in the summer to open up the roof. The structure is 9m wide and 18m long and constructed from white powder coated steel to complement the design and lines of the existing boat. The air cells are all clear allowing for the continuation of the panoramic views across the harbour. The whole structure seals to the boat and allows the space to be comfortably heated in the winter. The boat itself is used as an ice skating and restaurant/events space in the winter and in the summer the ice rink reverts to a swimming pool.

What are the technical considerations and challenges for such a project?
The design has been worked to complement the steel construction of the existing boat. The biggest consideration was the lead time given by the client. This was under 6 weeks for the whole design / build and installation! The main construction is all modular and everything is computer design and detailed and translate to manufacturing with absolute accuracy. The whole project is delivered in flat packed form to bolt together on the boat. The build is expected to take one day preparation and two days on the boat.

Update: Everything was delivered and installed complete ready to open in under 3 days. Below are images from Antwerp as well as the original project renders:

It was important for us not to publicise this project until after the Olympics, as the event we were taking part in would not be complete until after even the Paralympics was finished.

Inflate was approached by Innovision to develop and produce an AirClad structure as the main security accreditation office outside St James Palace for what would become the Great British Creative embassy over the period of the Olympic and Paralympic games. This venue would be used to host the highest levels of dignitaries to meet and see the best of Creative Britain.

Creativity is one of the UK’s largest exports and in a time when the need to export has never been more important an event such as this is a perfect platform to flex the British creative muscle.

The need for the security accreditation office was essential, however the original proposal was to have a temporary framed marquee that you could see in any number of agricultural shows around the world. Surely this would not be good enough as the first impression to an exhibition championing the export of Creative Britain?

Innovision tirelessly worked for the AirClad structure to be included knowing that this would set the right tone to the opening of the show and also offer a fantastic platform for Inflate to demonstrate one of their new AirClad products.

As anyone will know working on the London 2012 projects was a challenge and this project was no exception. The location outside St James Palace has the highest level of security and working regulations we had ever experienced. That said all Police and security were totally professional as well as good humoured and fun to be around.

Inflate were challenged on site to ensure they worked within these and the surrounding buildings noise constraints, whilst all the time aiming to deliver a uniquely architectural temporary building into the centre of London.

Coupled with the on site demands were the pre-build demands of designing and detailing a bespoke structure that would be signed-off by all parties involved from planning through the royal office and to creative industry board itself. Some challenge, which at too many times appeared would be impossible to prevent from snapping. Through some miracle sign-off was given and we were faced with the (usual) shorter than anticipated lead time for final production design engineering and manufacture.

Well we would not be here now reading this if we had not achieved what we set out to do. We created a 1,500sq ft temporary structure as the security office for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

The AirClad system is an original modular design all conceived, developed and manufactured in the UK. The AirClad system triumphed here and demonstrated that it could compete at the highest levels of constraint and still come through with its integrity and creativity intact, thus ensuring all dignitaries would have a first impression to Creative Briton that would not be a marquee with balloons around the edges.

But there was something more with the 2012 Olympics. This was not just about winning medals and shouting about what makes Britain Great. This was about leaving a legacy. What was to happen to these structures after the great event? Who would benefit in the future?

Well our Airclad now has a new home in Manchester at the Soap Works on the quayside. There it is being used as a new media showroom for all to see in its new guise. The whole AirClad structure was designed on budget on time and completely re-used to perpetuate the legacy of the building.

To sum up, Inflate delivered a functional building, with the highest level of design to demonstrate true original creative talent in Great Britain and to leave a legacy from the Olympics by pouring creative spirit into the north of the UK.

We will be exhibiting for all 3 days of the show, so come and say hello.

]]>http://airclad.com/dwell-exhibition/feed/0AirClad Website Launchhttp://airclad.com/airclad-website-launch/
http://airclad.com/airclad-website-launch/#commentsSun, 13 May 2012 16:26:34 +0000http://localhost:8888/airclad/?p=240Welcome to the new website for AirClad. The new site has far more depth than our previous model, with an outline of our work for both commercial and residential projects, as well as details of the conceptual output of our design team.

We have a news section for all company announcements, this will be regularly updated so keep your eyes peeled for future events and stories.